2013 Recipient

Samuel S. Weiss AwardThe Samuel S. Weiss Award was established as a service award in commemoration of thefounding father of the College, Samuel S. Weiss, whose efforts and initiative resulted inthe establishment of the College in 1932. It is presented periodically, and not necessarilyannually, to a Fellow of the College in recognition of outstanding career service to theAmerican College of Gastroenterology. Nominations are solicited and reviewed by theAwards Committee and the recipients must be approved by the ACG Board of Trustees.2013 RecipientJack A. Di Palma, MD, FACGDr. Di Palma trained in medicine at New York Medical College,Valhalla, New York and did a residency in Internal Medicine atUSAF Medical Center, Keesler, Biloxi, Mississippi. After completinghis fellowship in gastroenterology at Wilford Hall USAF MedicalCenter in San Antonio, Texas, he served on their teaching faculty.In 1987, Dr. Di Palma established the Division of Gastroenterologyat the University of South Alabama which he still directs.Dr. Di Palma’s scholarly interests are in various areas of digestivedisorders and physiology. He has contributed over 350 publishedarticles, reviews, book chapters and abstracts. Dr. Di Palmadirects the gastroenterology fellowship training program and thedivision is known for teaching to medical students, residents, physician’s assistants andnurse practitioners. He was recognized as “Best Clinical Teacher” by the 1996 College ofMedicine students and by “Best Doctors” in “Mobile/Baldwin counties,” “Alabama” and“America.” The University of South Alabama Gastroenterology Division was voted the bestclinical elective in 1998 by the medical students.Dr. Di Palma is active in the gastroenterology associations and organized medicine. Heserved on the Board of Censors of the Medical Society of Mobile County and was theChairman of the Mobile County Board of Health. Dr. Di Palma is a past President of theAmerican College of Gastroenterology. He is currently the Treasurer of the FoundationBoard of the World Gastroenterology Organization.Dr. Di Palma’s special areas of interest include endoscopy, colonoscopy, colon andpancreatic cancer screening, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophagealreflux, lactose maldigestion, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diagnostic testing,computers in training and practice, adult education, capsule endoscopy, and deepenteroscopy.36